Crib actuating mechanism



April 22, 1952 w. J. MCNABB ErAL CRIB ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed May 2l, 1949 '2 SHEETS- SHEET l 23 Il?! 42 L- /"3 .b /2 i 2 '//1 HD/4 6 Ei 4\` m u* f/ I f 3 ii .I I I I I #10 J0 si f4- \261 i //"L' m 5j`\/5 1s j f I7 16 v J4 14a BYV INVENTORS ZU. JI McJVa bb ZD'. R. Cach rane MWL ATTORN EYS April 22, 1952 w. J. MQNABB x-:TAL

CRIB ACTUATING MECHANISM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed May 2l, 1949 ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 22, 1952 42,593,599 ,este ACTIJTINGMECHANISM V.trailer J'.

v eNabb and William oehrane, c Dlhi, Salif. f

Application May 21, 1949fseria1No. 94,716

accessand so "that the operator has a vview lengthwise into the crib during the adjusting tn. x '.Anothe'r object of the invention is to provide an?A elevating mechanisnl,J as in the Vpreceding paragraphwherein the" mattress frame is suspendd on andy adjusted-by a'cable system-Which includes a plurality of runs extending vvithinthe structurefof the crib betv'veen attachment membersonthe'xnattress frame andthe crarl'operated' unit on one endboard of 'the-crib; 'such unit including a drum assembly to which the cable runs connect; Y'

An additional object ofthe invention is to provide an ielevating mechanism, as' described, which embodies-as a safety .feature-an' autofmatc brake arranged in the crank operated drum unit -to prevent accidental unvvindingj of the cables from the drum assembly under the i'nuence'of'the Weight of the mattress f yrame,

mattress, and baby thereon.` A'further objectl of this invention is to provide an elevating mechanism, as abovefwherein the aforesaid'crank-operated drum unit is designed so that` the crank is removablefthus assuring against unauthorized manipulation of vsaidfm'echani'sm, or accidental releaseoff-the brake vvhieh results, frombackl-turning of the handle.` A further object of the invention is to" provide a ciib`wherein" the mattress' frameis detachably 'fitted 4at ahend, in self-locating relation, With novel'` supporting cross bar formed at 'the ends with integral, longitudinal, outwardly'projecting attachment fingers 'forr connection Ivvith`r Correspending""suspensionY runsm'ofu' the cables; such foss AEarsW presenting the v`tutt/alc'hr'eiii', ngers with vcf'irrect-tran'sverse "s'pacin'gffi'n relative" position `0r"'th`e" mattress fiirifle, able"k3'drmctdn.r- "A further object `ofthe invention is to provide a practical, safe, and convenient elevating'inech 'ansn'for a vertically adjustable mattress frame a crib, and yet a mechanism which is'exceed'- 3 oiaims. (ci. 546e) Referring now more parti These objects are accomplished by means of such" vstructure and Y"relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

'Ir'the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a baby crib embodying the present invention.

`2 is an enlarged, ragmentary plan view, partly in section, of 'the end portion of the crib on"`whi`ch the crank-operated drum unit is mounted; the latter being'shown in the vievv.

Fig.- 3 isA an enlargedl fragmentary elevation, partly in section, ofthe stri'inctureV shown in Fig: 2,

Eig.- 4 is. an emerged @toes Sectie@ Qa 111,1@ 4-4 of Fig.'3.

` 'Figi' 5 is al? emerse@ fragmentary elevati@ showing the manner of securing each end of the mattress frame to tbe corresponding cross bar ttyvee'nth atachmetniigisl" f 1 lily to, the Char# acters of reference on the drawings, the inventin is embodied 4in a baby crib which includes up'stahdine end'baards'l and 2. @enacted t0,- gether by spacedv crib sides 3; the end boards each'i'ncluding corner posts 4.

A 'vertically adjustablemattress frame 5 is disposed'in the crib and'supports the mattress 6,

' lAtl each end thereofN the mattress frame 5N has a transverse,`inverted angle ironv l xed thereto in a manner to form a transverse, downwardly opening groove 8. w v n `A cross bar 9 removably but snugly engages in theA groove 8, from beloivfateach end of the mattress frame 5*; each'cross bar 9` having attachment fingers IU integral'wifth the ends thereof. The attachment AHl project horizontally, in longitudinally outward direction, into vertical grooves `|I in the correspending corner posts- 4.

Within the vertical'grooves Il, theV lingers IB v attach to suspension runs I2 of a simultaneouslyiadjustable cableV system which suspends the mattress frame'v in the crib for 'selective'aising or lowering adjustment, A'

' Said cable system vis disposed Wholly vvithin the connes of s structural members ofthe crib; the suspension runs I2 turning aboutjdirectioncha-nginepul'leys 13' at the uli-Der ends of said groovesy I !."Th"e cables corresponding tothe sus;- pension runs l2 in the'corner posts `4 of the end board 2 include transfer runs` Il! which extend downwardly through the grooves Ei of said corner posts; about'direction-changng pulleys I5, thence lengthvvfefin 'doves i5 in the lowerI rail IT of me" einen@ side s, .ethe

direction-changing pulleys IB and pass upwardly in the corner posts fs of the end board l to connection with the adjacent ngers I0.

With this arrangement a pair of cables turn over the pulleys I3 in the corner posts of the end board I, and thence said cables extend laterally inwardly as control leads i9; the latter being disposed in horizontal grooves 2l] in the top rail 2! of said end board I, and such grooves are capped as shown.

The grooves 2G communicate, at adjacent ends, with a central recess 22 formed in the top rail 2|, and a crank-operated drum unit, indicated generally at 23, is mounted in connection with said top rail 2l from the outside and projects into said recess. Within the recess 22 the crankoperated drum unit 23 includes a pair of side by side drums 2d, and said drums are on horizontal axes which extend transversely of the top rail.

The control leads i9 connect to the corresponding drums 2e in such relation that when the drums are rotated in opposite directions, the control leads i?, simultaneously wind on or oi said drums.

The drums 2li are connected together for simultaneous rotation by meshing gears 25 formed integral with said. drums, and the latter are crank actuated, in the manner hereinafter described, to cause the control leads i9 to wind, on and oi said drums so as to simultaneously raise or lower the mattress frame, respectively.

To assure of the stability of the mattress frame adjacent the end board 2, and to prevent any slack in the transfer runs I4, relatively light-duty tension springs 26 connect between the mattress frame and points on the crib therebelow.

In order to assure proper tensioning and even pull on both cables, a short adjustable chain and hook unit Ma is interposed in each transfer run lli along its bottom stretch as indicated.

The crank operated drum unit 23 comprises, in addition to the drums 24 with matching gears 25, the following structural arrangement:

An upstanding mounting plate 21 is secured on the top rail 2l over the outer end of the recess 22, and spindles 2S project inwardly from such mounting plate in supporting relation to the drums 25; the latter being tapered, as shown, to the end that the control leads I9 wind closely thereon.

In a plane below the drums 24, the mounting plate 21 is formed with an outwardly projecting boss 2E? in which a rotary socket 30 is turnable; such rotary socket being adapted to have the non-circular shaft 3l of a hand crank 32 engaged therein in removable relation. A snap ring 33 irictionally but releasably holds the crank shaft 3! in the rotary socket 39.

At its inner end the rotary socket 3i! is formed with an integral, inwardly extending spindle 34 which extends in turnable and non-threaded relation through a ixed, upstanding bracket 35, and a pair of lock nuts 55 are secured on the spindle 34, to the rear of said bracket.

Ahead of the bracket 35 the spindle 34 has a nut 31 threaded thereon, the threads being righthand, and the nut being also a pinion 38 meshing with one of the gears 25.

A rotary sleeve 38 surrounds the rotary socket 3e between the latter and the boss 29; the inner end of the rotary sleeve 39 being closely adjacent the nut 31, and in such relation to the bracket 35 that nut 31 may have a slight amount of axial movement along spindle 313. A ratchet device 40 cooperates with the rotary sleeve to permit it to rotate in the direction in which the nut 31 rotates (clockwise) to raise the mattress frame, but prevents rotation of said sleeve in the direction in which the nut 31 rotates to lower the mattress frame.

In the operation of this unit, and Aassuming that it is desired to raise the mattress from a lowered position, the initial clockwise turning movement of crank 32 turns spindle 34 in the same direction. The natural resistance or drag of the pinion-nut 31 to rotation causes the same to be advanced without rotation along the spindle until it jams against sleeve 3@ at point 4I, and thus in effect locking said sleeve, nut and spindle together so that they will all turn as a unit in a clockwise direction as long as a clockwise turning moment is imparted to crank 32. Such rotation of the pinion-nut is obviously transmitted to the cable drums 2li to wind the cables thereon and raise the mattress frame.

The instant the clockwise rotation o the crank 32 is halted, the tendency of the cable drums to turn in the opposite direction due to the weight of the mattress frame suspended from said drums, causes a rotative moment to be imparted to pinion-nut 31 in a direction to cause the same to advance (in an anti-clockwise direction) on spindle 34 and again jam-or remain jammedagainst sleeve 3S, and tending to rotate the same. Since said sleeve cannot rotate in such direction, however, because of the ratchet device d0, an effective and automatic brake against undesired lowering of the mattress frame is thus provided.

When it is desired to lower the mattress frame, crank 32 is turned in an anti-clockwise direction imparting rotation in the same direction to spindle 34. This causes the pinion-nut S1 to back awaywithout rotation-from sleeve 3e. As soon as the nut 31 is free of brake sleeve 39, the rotative movement of the drums in a mattress frame lowering direction (due to the weight of the mattress frame thereon) will act to rotate the nut and as long as the crank handle is rotated in said anti-clockwise direction at the same speed as that of the nut, the latter will remain centered between bracket 35 and sleeve 39 and the mattress frame will be lowered. As soon as such rotation is halted, however, the tendency of the drums and gearing to rotate in the opposite direction--if the mattress frame is not fully lowered and is still exerting a drag thereon-at once cause nut 31 to jam against sleeve 39 and lock the nut and associated parts against further rotation in a mattress lowering direction.

When the crank operated drum unit 23 is not in use the crank 32 is removed so that a person without authority, or the infant in the crib, cannot cause accidental release of said unit.`

`The mounting plate 21 is enclosed within a protective hood d2, while the opposite or inner end of the recess 22 is closed by a cover plate d3.

The above described actuating mechanism for the vertically adjustable mattress frame of an infants crib provides a very practical, reliable,

and convenient means of raising, and controlling which lends to the convenience of use of the crib.

Also, by mounting the crank operated drum unit 23 in a central position the corresponding cables in the cable systems are relatively balanced or equalized. y

The actuating mechanism, in its structure and use, is quite safe; there being no exposed working mechanisms to injure the infant or operator, and the automatic brake assures against any possible accidental lowering of the mattress frame.

The crib frame is extra deep compared to the conventional crib so that an active baby may be lowered in the frame sufficient to assure safety against possibly falling out.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the'invention, as set forth herein.

While this specication sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as donned by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. In a baby crib which includes a vertically adjustable mattress frame, and a simultaneously adjmtable cable system suspending the mattress frame in the crib; said cable system including a plurality of cables disposed mainly within the confines of structural members of the crib, the latter including an end,board, control leads of the cables extending to a substantially common point on the end board for simultaneous adjustment, and a hand crank actuated drum unit mounted on the end board at said point in connection with all of said control leads of the cables; the end board including a top rail, there being a recess in the top rail intermediate its ends and grooves in communication avith the recess from opposite sides,`the drum unit including a drum assembly in said recess, and said control leads of the cables extending through said grooves to connection with the drum assembly; the recess and grooves being enclosed and the shaft of the crank extending horizontally outward from the recess lengthwise of the crib whereby said cranlz is disposed exteriorly of the end board adjacent the top thereof and intermediate its sides.

2. In a baby crib which includes a vertically adjustable mattress frame, and a simultaneously adjustable cable system suspending the mattress frame in the crib; said cable system including a plurality of cables disposed mainly within the confines of structural members of the crib, the latter including Corner posts having vertical grooves therein opening toward the mattress frame, the cable system having a suspension run in each groove, a cross bar secured to each end of the mattress frame, and rigid attachment fingers projecting longitudinally outward from the ends of each cross bar into corresponding grooves wherein said fingers attach to the corresponding suspension runs, the mattress being formed with a transverse, downwardly opening groove at each end thereof; the corresponding cross bar removably but snugly engaging in each transverse groove from below; the cross bar being of a length to dispose the attachment fingers in proper position for engagement in the vertical grooves in the corner posts.

3. In a baby crib which includes a vertically adjustable mattress frame and cables suspending said frame; means to control the frame raising and lowering movement of the cables comprising a pair of connected drums on which the cables are wound, one drum having a gear thereon, a pinion meshing with the gear, the weight of the mat tress frame exerted on the drums through the cables tending to rotate the drums in a frame lowering direction, a rotary member having' a threaded spindle projecting from one end and on the threads of which the pinion is mounted, a hand crank engageable with the other end of the member lto rotate the same in one direction I .or the other, a rotary sleeve about and turnable `the other direction, and a ratchet holding device acting on the sleeve to prevent rotation of the same in said one direction.

WALTER J. MCNABB. WILLIAM R. COCHRANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 322,645 Schlichting July 21, 1885 520,576 Scearce May 29, 1894 577,330 Speidel Feb. 16, 1897 736,188 Wyssa Aug. 11, 1903 1,040,795 Skelngton Oct. 8, 1912 1,104,390 Stanley July 21, 1914 2,326,379 McNabb et al Aug. 10, 1943 60 2,448,317 Lineberry et al. Aug. 31, 1948 

